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ALLENTOWN, Pa. (Oct. 5, 2021) — As much as many hate to admit it, before long, the temperatures will start to dip and the first snowflakes will arrive.

Until then, these crisp fall days are perfect for a little preparation and planning to make sure you and your home are ready for the colder months.

Did you know that heating a home uses more energy than any other system in the house, making up about 42% of your annual utility bill? Getting a jumpstart, before winter arrives, can help you stay comfortable when it’s cold and squirrel away savings for the spring. Here are five tips you can use to get started today.

• Dust off the furnace: A heating system that isn’t maintained properly can make for a cold winter. Schedule service for your system now, before you need to use it. Additionally, a dirty filter will decrease airflow and waste energy, so set a reminder on your phone to clean or replace furnace filters once a month, or as recommended. Be sure to clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters and radiators as needed, and make sure they're not blocked by furniture, carpeting or drapes.
• Love the layered look: You can save up to 1% in heating costs for every degree you dial back your thermostat. Consider snuggling into a sweater at home and layer on natural fibers to keep in the warmth. We also lose heat from our heads, so pull up that hoodie or rock your favorite beanie hat. Additionally, keep plenty of blankets on the couch for snuggling and staying warm while watching the game or binging your favorite television shows or movies.
• Give yourself a better view: Be sure to remove window air-conditioning units, or tightly cover them on the inside. Leaving them in place or without protection invites cold air into your house, which could drive up your heating costs.
• Reverse thinking: A ceiling fan can provide a cooling breeze in the summer, but did you know that the direction they spin can be reversed in colder months to better circulate warm air? By changing its direction to clockwise, and operating it at a low speed, your summer cooling device will begin to force warm air back toward occupied space, allowing you to lower your thermostat setting by three to five degrees.
• No peeking: As you start using your oven more, resist the urge to check on a dish while it’s cooking — even during the holidays. Every time you open the oven door, the temperature drops by as much as 25 degrees, making the oven work harder and use more energy. Use the window instead, that’s why they invented the oven light!

With a little preparation this fall, you’ll be ready to snuggle up in comfy clothing and watch the snow fly, and maybe even start a vacation fund with some of the money you’ve saved. For more information on all PPL Electric Utilities can do to help you save energy and money — including information on our customer assistance programs — visit pplelectric.com.

PPL Electric Utilities provides electric delivery service to more than 1.4 million homes and businesses in Pennsylvania and ranks among the best utility companies in the country for customer service and reliability. PPL Electric Utilities is a major employer in the communities it serves. It is a subsidiary of PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL). For more information visit www.pplelectric.com.

Customers can follow PPL Electric Utilities on Facebook (Facebook.com/PPLElectric), Twitter (Twitter.com/PPLElectric) and Instagram (Instagram.com/PPLElectric) to get up-to-the-minute news and information, energy efficiency tips, bill help information, storm updates and more.

Note to Editors: Visit our media website at www.pplnewsroom.com for additional news and background about PPL Corporation.

Contact: For news media: Russ Hryvnak, 570-807-2229, rhryvnak@pplweb.com
 PPL Electric Utilities